In a bid to promote women empowerment, a sum of $25 million grants are going to a Nigerian firm, ImpactHer and 33 organisations from other countries for creating opportunities that benefit women and girls.

The grants targeted at nonprofits and social enterprises are envisaged to help them push their solutions for women and girls around the world to reach their full economic potential and strengthen the well-being of communities recovering from the impact of COVID-19.

The $25M global philanthropy challenge was launched in March 2021 and called for gender equity-focused organizations to submit their boldest and most innovative ideas to create a more equitable economic reality for women and girls.

Google.org partnered with a women-led panel of experts including leaders like Rigoberta Menchu, Naomi Osaka, Shakira, Susan Wojcicki, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka – and gender equity-focused organizations Vital Voices and Project Everyone to evaluate proposals based on four key criteria: innovation, impact, feasibility, and scalability.

The selected organizations have outlined projects that will help women and girls, especially those in geographically, economically or socially marginalized populations reach their full economic potential.

Additionally, recipients will participate in a four-month accelerator program led by Google’s Accelerator and Women Techmakers communities, in partnership with Vital Voices to move their projects forward. Select organizations will also receive a Google.org Fellowship and dedicated Ad Grants to promote their mission.

Justifying the funding, Google.org President, Jacquelline Fuller said; “The pandemic recovery must be an inclusive one, and we know that when we invest in women and girls, we all benefit.”